Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only identify
caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more importantly, recommend and
identify their food sources?
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds for email)

Sacha wrote:
Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only
identify caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more
importantly, recommend and identify their food sources?

For the non-specialist, the Collins Gem Guide is very good. My books
are in boxes, but I think it mentions the usual food plants for each
species: I strongly recommend having a look at it when you're in
town.

--
Mike.

On 17/7/05 22:46, in article , "Mike Lyle"
wrote:

Sacha wrote:
Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only
identify caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more
importantly, recommend and identify their food sources?

For the non-specialist, the Collins Gem Guide is very good. My books
are in boxes, but I think it mentions the usual food plants for each
species: I strongly recommend having a look at it when you're in
town.

Good old Collins! Thank you, I'll look for that.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

In article , Sacha
writes
Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only identify
caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more importantly, recommend and
identify their food sources?

D J Carter and B Hargreaves 'A Field Guide to Caterpillars and Moths in
Britain and Europe' pub Collins 1986, ISBN 0 00 219080 X

Colour plates of caterpillars by foodplant, with pictures alongside
accompanying text showing what the adult butterfly/moth looks like, has
a general index and a foodplant index.

It's brilliant for identifying caterpillars, and the foodplant lists at
the back will tell you which plants to grow to provide food for the
caterpillars.

Also has a useful plate of 'larvae of insects often confused with
caterpillars' - Solomon's Seal sawfly and the rest.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Sacha" wrote ...
Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only identify
caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more importantly, recommend
and
identify their food sources?

The following might come in handy...
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/


--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

On 17/7/05 23:45, in article , "Bob Hobden"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote ...
Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only identify
caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more importantly, recommend
and
identify their food sources?

The following might come in handy...
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/


Thank you all, very much - a wealth of information to enjoy!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

"Sacha" wrote in message
.uk...
On 17/7/05 23:45, in article , "Bob Hobden"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote ...
Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only identify
caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more importantly,
recommend
and
identify their food sources?

The following might come in handy...
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/


Thank you all, very much - a wealth of information to enjoy!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

If you find out how to stop the little boreing green jobs sewing the leaves
together and eating lituarily everything let me know!
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

The message k
from Sacha contains these words:

Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only identify
caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more importantly, recommend and
identify their food sources?

Butterflies and Moths of Britain and Europe; John Wilkinson & Michael
Tweedie; Diamond Handguides; ISBN 0 261 66371-2

Does all you ask, but unfortunately doesn't illustrate eggs.

--
Rusty
Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Sacha wrote:
Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only
identify caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more
importantly, recommend and identify their food sources?

For the non-specialist, the Collins Gem Guide is very good. My books
are in boxes, but I think it mentions the usual food plants for each
species: I strongly recommend having a look at it when you're in
town.

Good old Collins! Thank you, I'll look for that.

I use Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe -
Michael Chinery - in the paperback edition. I now realise it would have
been better to go for the original hard back, as the publishers have
reduced the size of the plates to fit the paperback format. This means
measuring insects and comparing them to written notes rather than
plonking the beastie on the page to see if it fits! The information
contained, is nevertheless, excellent.

--
Jo
Alicante

On 18/7/05 13:27, in article
, "Totty"
wrote:


Sacha wrote:
Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only
identify caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more
importantly, recommend and identify their food sources?

For the non-specialist, the Collins Gem Guide is very good. My books
are in boxes, but I think it mentions the usual food plants for each
species: I strongly recommend having a look at it when you're in
town.

Good old Collins! Thank you, I'll look for that.

I use Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe -
Michael Chinery - in the paperback edition. I now realise it would have
been better to go for the original hard back, as the publishers have
reduced the size of the plates to fit the paperback format. This means
measuring insects and comparing them to written notes rather than
plonking the beastie on the page to see if it fits! The information
contained, is nevertheless, excellent.


More good advice. Thank you all.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Sacha wrote:

Which book would members of urg recommend which would not only identify
caterpillars, moths and butterflies but even more importantly, recommend and
identify their food sources?

"The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland", Jeremy Thomas and Richard
Lewington, pub. Dorling Kindersley, ISBN 0-86318-591-6 is excellent for
butterflies, giving pictures of adults, eggs, caterpillars and chrysalis
plus detailed descriptions of life cycles, adult and caterpillar food
plants.

Since there are only ~60 species of butterfly found in the UK, this
wasn't too demanding. On the other hand, there are nearly 900 species of
moth (excluding micro species) found in the UK!

The "Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland", Paul Waring
and Martin Townsend, Illustraded by Richard Lewington, pub. British
Wildlife Publishing, ISBN 0-9531399-2-1 does, I think, an excellent job.
The one failing is that there are relatively few illustration of
caterpillars but there are detailed species descriptions and information
on caterpillar food plants.

Both books are relatively costly £25 to £30 but, I think, excellent
value.
--
Larry Stoter